Liquid-heating apparatus

ABSTRACT

Heating apparatus for liquids which are exceedingly sensitive to even minute amounts of contaminants; such as foods, drugs, chemicals, cosmetics and the like; the apparatus being operable over a wide range of temperatures and pressures and lending itself to quick disassembly and reassembly to permit thorough cleaning of the several parts thereof.

United States Patent- Inventor Thomas Margittai 778 Cornwall Drive, State College, Pa. 1680] Appl. No. 876,706

Filed Nov. 14, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 LIQUID-HEATING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 122/208, 165/155 Int. Cl F221: 37/12 Field of Search H 122/208;

1 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.826,?50 10/1931 Demers 165/155 X 2.145.084 1/1939 Hersey 165/155 2.870.997 1/1959 Soderstrom 165/155 X Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Att0rneyPhilip G. Hilbert ABSTRACT: Heating apparatus for liquids which are exceedingly sensitive to even minute amounts of contaminants; such as foods, drugs, chemicals, cosmetics and the like; the apparatus being operable over a wide range of temperatures and pressures and lending itself to quick disassembly and reassembly to permit thorough cleaning of the several pans thereof.

PATENTEflucnemn 3,612 002 sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR. Thomas Margitrai yLQ- s.

ATTORNEY PATENTEU our 1 2 I97! I SHEET 2 0F 2 LIQUID-HEATING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Known devices for heating liquids are generally of the tubular and plate types. In the tubular systems, the matter of cleaning the same at successive intervals of use in a manner to completely eliminate therefrom any residualmaterial which might contaminate succeeding throughput, may present some problems. Thus, tubular heating systems may not be usable in particular heating operations.

Plate-type heating devices lend themselves to thorough cleaning by virtue of the disassembly of the parts thereof. However, the construction requires heavy and bulky plates and framework, since extensive gasketing is required between the plates, with high pressures applied to minimize leakage. Further, internal operating pressures must be limited to avoid blowing out the gasketing; thereby imposing substantial limitations on the overall utility of the plate-type heaters.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved liquid heating apparatus which is readily disassembled and reassembled to allow for thorough cleaning of the constituent parts thereof; the apparatus being of minimal bulk and weight and allowing the use of a very wide range of temperatures and working pressures.

Another object of this invention is to provide heating apparatus of the character described, having a construction which permits the liquid throughput to travel at high speeds thereto at elevated pressures, to thereby maximize the heat transfer capacity thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide heating apparatus of the character described, including gasketing between constituent parts thereof; such gasketing being unaffected by the working pressures thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character described, which is economical to fabricate and operate; yet is capable of avoiding even minute residues which might contaminate the liquids being heated.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the major subassemblies of liquid heating apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view at one end of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an end view at the other end of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in detail to the drawings, designates a liquidheating apparatus embodying the invention; the same com prising a cylindrical metal shell 11 of suitable axial extent. A series of concentric, annular assemblies are arranged for removable mounting within said shell 11; said assemblies defining annular paths for movement of the liquid to be heated and annular chambers for bringing a heating medium in heat transfer relation to the moving liquid.-

The shell 11 is provided with assembly mounting means at the opposite ends thereof; comprising radially disposed rim members 13, I4. Rim member 13 is welded to annular edge 11A of shell 11, as at 15 while rim member 14 is welded to the other annular edge 11B of shell 11, as at 16. Member 13 is recessed on its outer, inner surface to form an outwardly facing radial shoulder 17, the inner edge 18 thereof being disposed radially inward of shell edge 11A.

Member 14 is also recessed to form an outwardly facing radial shoulder 19, whose inner edge 20 is adjacent shell edge 1 1B.

A series of annular chamber assemblies for admitting a heating medium, such as steam or the like, in concentric relation to each other, are removably mounted in shell 11. Thus, an annular heat carrying chamber 20 is defined by a pair of concentric thin metal cylindrical members 21, 22 which are interconnected at one end thereof by a fiat ring 23 welded to the outer ends of members 21, 22.

The'inner ends of members 21, 22 are fixed to an annular, flanged mounting ring 25. Ring 25 comprises a central portion 26 formed with axial openings 27, 27A for communicating with diametrically opposed chamber portions 20; opening 27 being adapted to admit a heating media such as steam, while opening 27A is adapted to drain resultant condensate.

Ring 25 further comprises an outwardly, radially extending annular flange portion 28 located intermediate the axial extent of central portion 26 and an inwardly, radially extending annular flange portion 29 which is outwardly offset with respect to flange portion 28 and has its outer face 29A flush with the outer face of central portion 26.

A second annular heat carrying chamber 20A is defined by cylindrical walled members 21A, 22A and end closure 23A; the same being affixed at the other ends thereof to a mounting ring 25A, similar to ring 25 Ring 25A includes flange portions 28A, 29B, with an inlet'27B for heating medium and outlet 27C for condensate.

' Amounting member 30 is axially located with respect to shell 11; the same comprising a central portion 31 formed with a central inlet opening 32 for admitting liquid to be heated; an external fitting 33 communicating with opening 32. Member 30 further includes opposed openings 35 which communicate with an annular chamber 36.

Chamber 36 is defined by cylindrical wall members 38, 39 interconnected at one end by a flat ring 40; the other ends of members 38, 39 being welded to the inner end 41, 42 of member 30. Member 30 further includes an outwardly extending radial flange 34 located on a central portion of the axial extent thereof.

A second set of concentric, annular heating chambers are secured to mounting rings, as previously described, and are arranged for telescopic interposition with respect to the first mentioned set of concentric, annular heating chambers.

Thus, chamber 20' is interfitted between chambers 20 and 20A, while chamber 20" is interfitted between chambers 20A and 36. Chamber 20' is made up of cylindrical walled members 45, 46 interconnected at one end by a flat ring 47 and mounted at the other end on a flanged ring 48 similar to mounting ring 25. Chamber 20" is made up of cylindrical walled members 49, 50 interconnected by a flat ring 51 and secured to a flanged mounting ring 52. Steam inlets 53, 54 and diametrically opposed condensate outlets 55, 56 respectively communicate with diametrically opposed portions of chambers 20', 20". A combined steam inlet and condensate outlet 58 extends axially of tubular member 57 having a radial flange, for communication with an axial chamber 60 defined by a tubular member 61 having a closure 63 at one end thereof, the other end being secured to member 57.

As shown in FIG. 4, chambers 20. 20', 20A, 20", 36, and 60 are concentrically related to provide annular flow paths for the liquid to be heated which is admitted at 33 and is removed in its heated condition at 33A. Thus, liquid admitted at 32 is deflected by closure 63 to move axially in an annular path 65, from left to right, FIG. 4; then radially outward about closure 40 in an annular path 66 to a cylindrical path 67 between chambers 20' and 36, from right to left.

Liquid movement continues in an axially reversing pattern, as at 68-71, with outward radial movement at the ends of the paths. The chamber walls are suitably spaced to define paths 65-75, in accordance with the liquid being heated, etc.

The preformed mounting rings are readily assembled with respect to shell 11 and the rims l3, 14 thereof; the radial flanges of the mounting rings being brought into opposed relation with suitable gasketing G interposed therebetween.

Closure rings 75, 76 having shoulders 77, 78 respectively, together with opposed rims 13, 14 respectively, clamp the outermost flange portions 28, 28B of mounting rings 25, 48 respectively; with circumferentially spaced bolts 80 passing through aligned openings 81, 82 in rings 75, 76 and opposed rims I4, 13.

Further, manifold means 85 for a steam supply interconnects openings 27, 27B and 34, while manifold means 86 for removal of condensate interconnects outlet openings 27A,

27C and 35, See FIG. 2. Liquid inlet pipe 87 is connected to fitting 33, On the other side of apparatus 10, manifold means 88 interconnects steam inlets 53, 54 while manifold means 89 interconnects condensate outlets 55, 56. A separate, combination inlet-outlet conduit, not shown, is connected to opening 58.

The walls of chambers 20, 20", 60 are formed with helical ribbing 90, to impart a helical path of movement of the liquid being heated to thus provide a uniform rate of flow and thus, uniform heat transfer.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for heating liquid comprising a cylindrical shell, a plurality of annular concentric heating-chamber means, means for removably mounting said heating-chamber means on said shell, said mounting means comprising a plurality of annular concentric mounting members, one set of said mounting members being located on one side of said shell, and another set of said mounting members being located on the other side of said shell, each of said chamber means being secured to the respective mounting members, inlet means for admitting a heating medium to said chamber means, said chamber means being arranged to provide a plurality of axially extending, coaxial annular spaces therebetween for passing a liquid to be heated therein, means for interconnecting said annular spaces, liquid inlet means communicating with one of said spaces, and liquid outlet means communicating with another of said spaces, said liquid inlet means communicating with the axially located space, and said liquid outlet means communicating with the annular space remote from said axially located space.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said mounting members comprise radially extending, annular flange means, the flange means of each mounting member interfltting with the flange means of a radially adjacent mounting member.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said heating chamber means comprises a pair of concentric cylindrical embers, means for interconnecting and closing said cylindrical members at one end thereof, the other end of said cylindrical members being connected to an annular mounting member, said heating medium inlet means being disposed on a central portion of said mounting member.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein each of the closed ends of said heating chamber means is spaced from an adjacent portion of a mounting member to provide an annular radially extending passage for interconnecting the annular spaces between a given heating chamber means and the heating chamber means adjacent said given heating chamber means.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each heating chamber is connected at one end thereof to one of said mounting means respectively and is closed at the other end thereof, the mounting means for the one set of said chambers being on one side of said shell and the mounting means for the other set of chambers being on the other side of said shell.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the closed end of each heating chamber is spaced from an adjacent portion of a mounting means to provide a radially extending annular passage for interconnecting adjacent liquid passing annular spaces.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein each heating chamber comprises a pair of concentric annular wall members and flat ring means interconnecting said annular wall members at one end thereof, one of the wall members of each pair of wall members being formed with a helical rib to provide a uniform helical path for the movement of the heated liquid in said an nular spaces. 

1. Apparatus for heating liquid comprising a cylindrical shell, a plurality of annular concentric heating-chamber means, means for removably mounting said heating-chamber means on said shell, said mounting means comprising a plurality of annular concentric mounting members, one set of said mounting members being located on one side of said shell, and another set of said mounting members being located on the other side of said shell, each of said chamber means being secured to the respective mounting members, inlet means for admitting a heating medium to said chamber means, said chamber means being arranged to provide a plurality of axially extending, coaxial annular spaces therebetween for passing a liquid to be heated therein, means for interconnecting said annular spaces, liquid inlet means communicating with one of said spaces, and liquid outlet means communicating with another of said spaces, said liquid inlet means communicating with the axially located space, and said liquid outlet means communicating with the annular space remote from said axially located space.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said mounting members comprise radially extending, annular flange means, the flange means of each mounting member interfitting with the flange means of a radially adjacent mounting member.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said heating chamber means comprises a pair of concentric cylindrical embers, means for interconnecting and closing said cylindrical members at one end thereof, the other end of said cylindrical members being connected to an annular mounting member, said heating medium inlet means being disposed on a central portion of said mounting member.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein each of the closed ends of said heating chamber means is spaced from an adjacent portion of a mounting member to provide an annular radially extending passage for interconnecting the annular spaces between a given heating chamber means and the heating chamber means adjacent said given heating chamber means.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each heating chamber is connected at one end thereof to one of said mounting means respectively and is closed at the other end thereof, the mounting means for the one set of said chambers being on one side of said shell and the mounting means for the other set of chambers being on the other side of said shell.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the closed end of each heating chamber is spaced from an adjacent portion of a mounting Means to provide a radially extending annular passage for interconnecting adjacent liquid passing annular spaces.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein each heating chamber comprises a pair of concentric annular wall members and flat ring means interconnecting said annular wall members at one end thereof, one of the wall members of each pair of wall members being formed with a helical rib to provide a uniform helical path for the movement of the heated liquid in said annular spaces. 